Current connecter



Feb. 14, 1928.

M. F. FITZGERALD CURRENT CONNECTER Filed July 24, 1924 Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE; F. FITZGERALD, OI! WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR THE LIITZGER. ALD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A COBIOBATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CURRENT CONNECTER.

Application aied' July 24, 1924. Serial m. 728,000.

This invention relates to separable attaching devices which are used in connect ng electrical conductors and the like, and more particularly with portable electrical devices such as flat irons, hot plates, etc.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a jack member which will receive terminals of any of the types now on the market. There are now in commerce many appliances in which a standard spacing has been adopted for the two terminals of the plug member but without any stand ardization of the shape of the terminal, which may be round, or fiat and in a plane, or flat and not in a plane, etc.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved connecting member which will firmly grip the terminals.

A further object is the provision of a cord receiving terminal which will securely lock the wire against accidental disengage"- mcnt, and which may be engaged therewith in a simple efficient manner.

In the'accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view of a double attaching jack with one-half of the casing removed, to show the position of the connecting members within the jack; FFig. 2 is across section on line of Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the axis of one of the connecting members;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 44-of Fig.

The attaching jack consists of a pair of similar casing blocks 1, formed Ofi insulating material with the end channel 2 to receive a connecting cord and two parallel channels 3, 3 spaced at appropriate distances to carry the connecting members at a. standard separation. .ihe apertures 4, 4 are provided for reception of screws to lock the two casing hloclrs 1 together. This is a standard construction and is shown for the more easy comprehension of the assembly of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the connecting members, these are each formed with the arm 5 having at its outward end a divergent lip 6 and arched at its cross section, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the better to enable it to hold a round plug terminal without material movement. Intermediate its ends, it is provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 7 7. l he other en of the arm 5 projects, as as 8, beyond the lugs 7 and is made with a depressed cup portion 9 having its rimre-bent, as at 10, to form an annular groove 10'. Centrally of the cup is a threaded aperture 11 to receive a binding screw 12, which snugly fits within the cup 9. It will be noted that the annular groove is cut away as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the passage of the end of the wire, so that the head of the screw binds tightly and clamps the wire for its full loop into the cup.

A second similar arm 13 is formed with a divergent lip 14 at one end, a pair of upstanding lugs 7 intermediate the ends, and the other end has a groove 17 formed between the cup 16 and re-bent edge 17.

A pivot pin 19 is passed through the eyes in the pairs of lugs 7 and 7', and riveted in position. The he ical spring 21 is disposed with its ends in the grooves 10 and 17, and is thus prevented from displacement by the re-bent edges 10 and 17.

The connecting assembly, being entirely free of the casing blocks 1, is easily removable for attachment to the conducting wire, and replaceable after such attachment. The. two blocks 1 are held together by screws passing through holes 4:, 4:- Y

The device will acommodate plug having terminals of any shape and standard or approximately standard separation.

It will be understood that this embodiment is an illustration and not a limitation, inasmuch as modifications may be made therein by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asvnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a current tap, a receiving member with upstanding pivotal lugs intermediate its ends, an annular spring receiving cup at one end and a terminal screw with its head adapted to clamp the conductor cord and disposed in the central space of the cup.

2. In a current tap, a pair of sheet metal receiving members pivoted together and forming the plug contacting structure, an annular spring receiving groove formed at one end of each of said members, said members presenting a circular depression at the face opposite the central web of said groove, and adapted to have its "head seated in the a spring to force said members into contactcircular depression on the opposite face of ing relation with a plug and having its end the member, so that the end of the conductor 10 coils received and guided in said annular may be gripped by said head and the side 6 grooves, and a terminal binding screw havand bottom Walls of said depression.

\ ing its threaded stem passing through she In testimony whereof, I aflizi my signature.

central web of one of said annular grooves MAURICE F. FITZGERALD. 

